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State of the Industry
Rob Bates, Dave Siminski, Peter Smith, Ross WesdorpAug. 21
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The AI-Powered Jewlery Store
Andrea HillAug. 21
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Historical Diamond Cuts
Gail Brett LevineAug. 21
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From Repairs to Relationships
Jonathan GellerAug. 21
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The AI-Powered Workflows
Andrea HillAug. 21
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Legal Knowledge for a Stronger Store
Liz FraccaroAug. 21
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Planning for Today's Profits, Tomorrow's Exit Strategy
Sherry Smith (The Retail Smiths), Chuck Frey (Charles Frey Co.)Aug. 21
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The Outsider Advantage
Erin Moyer-CarballeaAug. 21
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AI in Jewelry
Mike MageeAug. 21
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Onboarding: Making Those New Hires "Stick"
Dayna BrownAug. 21
Event RetailFusion Fall 2026
starts on
Aug 21, 2026, 9:00:00 AM
(US/Eastern)
Reading the Market
Location: Cobb Ballroom E
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8/21/26, 12:15 PM
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8/21/26, 1:00 PM
(US/Eastern)
(45 minutes)
Paul Zimnisky, Rob Bates, Dave Siminski. Moderated by Andrea Hill
Paul Zimnisky, Rob Bates, Dave Siminski. Moderated by Andrea Hill
Gold, Diamonds, and the Economy Heading Into Q4
For independent retail jewelers, the holiday season is the most critical selling period of the year. But with gold hovering near historic highs, a rapidly bifurcating diamond market, and a ""K-shaped"" economy reshaping consumer habits, preparing for Q4 requires more than just intuition. Are you ready?
Join us at RetailFusion for a fast-moving, frank morning conversation with three of the jewelry industry's sharpest market minds. We will break down exactly what is happening with precious metal pricing, diamond market dynamics, and the broader economic forces bearing down on independent jewelers, and we will translate that complex data into practical, forward-focused strategies for your store. Topics covered will include:
Selling Gold as Prices Soar: Learn how to adjust your product mix and communicate high prices to customers without losing the sale.
Diamond Market Dynamics: Understand how the split between natural and lab-grown diamonds should influence your holiday inventory and sales decisions.
The K-Shaped Economy: Some luxury consumers are seeing their purchasing power decrease, while others are spending more than ever. Who is buying, what are they buying, and how does jewelry fit into their holiday spending plans?
High-Cost Pricing Strategies: How do we protect our margins when input costs rise, customers become more price-sensitive, and ecommerce takes market share from brick-and-mortar?
Indications for Q4 2026: Gain expert insight into the economic signals should make you cautious and what you should do differently heading into the end of the year.
This session, designed for independent retail jewelers who are serious about making smart, data-driven decisions, offers a clear picture of the market, helping you develop your holiday buying strategy and giving you the confidence to lead your team into a successful selling season.